Heather Salines charged with rape of family friend

A 38-year-old mother of two from Saugus has pleaded not guilty to rape charges stemming from an alleged sexual relationship with a 15-year-old boy.

Heather Salines was allowed to remain free on $7,500 bail after pleading not guilty Thursday in Salem Superior Court to charges including six counts of child rape.

Prosecutors say the case came to light after administrators at a Saugus middle school learned the boy had been showing another student nude photos Salines had sent to his cellphone. Authorities say Salines met the boy through her 13-year-old daughter. Prosecutors called the boy "vulnerable" because his own mother had died.

The Daily Item of Lynn reports that Salines' lawyer said when all the facts come to light, his client "will no longer be seen as the villain."